Wales sink to new low against Wallabies

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Welsh rugby was at a low ebb before a humiliating summer tour to Australia in 1991. This twelve try thumping in Brisbane took Wales to previously unplumbed depths, though it was to be surpassed three months later when defeat to Western Samoa knocked them out of the 1991 World Cup at the pool stage.

Australia, by contrast, were at an advanced stage of preparation for their first World Cup triumph. John Eales, Marty Roebuck and Bob Egerton made debuts in company of an otherwise settled team boasting several all-time great Wallabies. They were so much better than Wales that it was hard to judge how good they were, and it took convincing wins over England and New Zealand in their next matches for Nick Farr-Jones’ team to realise their true mettle.

Paul Thorburn, Wales captain, had started the tour full of optimism: “We hope to develop an style which will carry us through to the World Cup so we don’t come back scratching our heads and wondering where we are going.” It wasn’t to be.

A 35-24 defeat to a Queensland side that took its foot off the gas after half time was followed by a 71-8 mauling by New South Wales the week before the Test. In The Times, Gerald Davies previewed the match by announcing, “Psychologically, they (Wales) are already crippled.” Indeed, Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer was more concerned about his own team’s complacency than any Welsh threat.

Former Neath prop Ron Waldron had assumed the role of Welsh coach during their Five Nations whitewash in 1990. Neath were the dominant Welsh club, fitter and tougher than all others at the time, but Waldron’s attempt to build the national team around a Neath nucleus caused resentment and bitter in-fighting.

So, in the Brisbane heat, Australia handed down a lesson in speed, power and collective technique that rendered Wales impotent. In the second minute, Thorburn dropped a high ball in front of his posts and Tim Horan was over for the score. It was point-a-minute stuff for the first quarter with two further tries from Michael Lynagh and one from Willie Ofahengaue, two Lynagh conversions and a penalty before the Wallabies fell into a lull until half-time.

Winning the first half lineouts 14-3 allowed Australia to do as they pleased. Thorburn’s single penalty and a drop goal from fly-half Adrian Davies was all Wales could muster.

After the break Australia rampaged on, their marauding back row of Ofahengaue, Jeff Miller and Tim Gavin snaffling anything loose and frequently dispossessing Wales. Eight more tries were added by Phil Kearns (2), Gavin (2), Roebuck, Egerton, David Campese and Jason Little. Wales lacked fitness, speed and technical skills in all departments.

Farr-Jones sensed he had a special team and concluded presciently, “This was the first of ten rungs which leads to the World Cup”.

For Wales, the gloom was compounded when the post-match dinner ended with a brawl among their players, to the great embarrassment of the Australian Rugby Union and its guests. Mike Hall needed stitches in a cut hand after what a Queensland official described as “the most disgraceful scene I’ve witnessed from a group of players”. The touring party flew home while newspaper headlines screamed: “Scuffle deepens Welsh shame” and “Woeful Wales wallop….each other”.

Waldron strongly resisted calls for his head at first, but pressure mounted until he ‘retired due to ill health’ before the World Cup. Divisions within the squad ran deep enough for Thorburn to announce his international retirement after the tour, despite being at a personal peak of fitness and form. In hindsight, he later said that he shouldn’t have quit then but, “basically, I’d just had enough”.

Years later, Thorburn explained: “Unfortunately, in 1991, people weren’t prepared to listen, preferred to blame it on the Ron Waldron era, but it is only quite recently that the drink problem which Welsh rugby had been associated with for far too long disappeared at the highest level.”

Nine changes of personnel couldn’t stop Western Samoa in the World Cup opener. When Australia waltzed to a 38-3 win the following week, Wales were out of the World Cup.

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Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24976534

Wales sink to new low against Wallabies